10 years between Patriots’ home losses in December

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Tom Brady last tasted defeat at home in December in this Dec. 22, 2002, loss to the Jets.

December 12, 2012

The Patriots’ loss to the 49ers in Week 15 of 2012 brought an end to a 20-game winning streak at home in December that dated to Dec. 22, 2002, a 30-17 defeat to the Jets. That first loss doomed their playoff hopes as they sought to defend their Super Bowl XXXVI title. The next loss occurred almost a full decade later.

In between, the Patriots were unbeatable at Gillette Stadium in December -- and very difficult to beat there in any other month. The Patriots went 68-11 at home overall in the regular season between that loss to the Jets and the loss to the 49ers.

Much changed in the NFL and elsewhere between the losses at home in the month of December. Tom Brady, for example, had not even completed his first full season as the Patriots’ starting quarterback when the streak started. Take a look back at what has changed in that decade:

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